Researching for Historical Fiction: Where to Start
Writing a piece of historical fiction can be daunting. Here are some researching principles to help you navigate the plethora of information out there.
Oct 31, 2019 4 min read
The Novel Craft Blog
How Grammar Checkers Still Make Mistakes
I recently read a tweet from a writer who was thrown into a state of self-doubt because she disagreed with something her grammar checker identified as wrong. As a language nerd (commonly known as a copy editor), I love it when proofreading software keeps me from...
Engaging Writing Exercises for a Group Setting
Group writing exercises can help get us writers out of our own heads and bring our creative energy into a social situation, which I think we all need sometimes (even introverts like me). So, here are some writing exercises I learned from the Thin Air writers’...
Review of Dan Brown’s MasterClass
At the end of this MasterClass, I am going to admit something to you that I have never admitted to anyone on Earth. I’m also going to show you an artifact that nobody except me has ever seen. And that is your first lesson in suspense. Dan Brown, MasterClass Chapter...
How to Tell the Difference between a Hybrid and Vanity Press
So you want to publish your novel. You probably know about the traditional and self-publishing routes, but there is another option you may not have heard of before. It’s called hybrid publishing, and it is filled with its own potential and peril.
Review of Margaret Atwood’s MasterClass
Creativity is one of the essential things about being human. So you don't have to apologize for it. It's something human beings do. Margaret Atwood, MasterClass Chapter 1: Introduction As soon as I finished Neil Gaiman’s MasterClass I dove straight into Margaret...
Review of Neil Gaiman’s MasterClass
I once heard that Tolkien hated teaching so much that he would lecture at the volume of a whisper to frustrate his students into never taking his classes. The students that were determined to learn from the master storyteller pulled their desks all the way up to his lectern and listened closely, forcing him to impart his knowledge. When it comes to teaching, Neil Gaiman is the polar opposite of Tolkein.
The Moral Responsibility of the Storyteller
Stories influence readers, for better or worse. How should authors and other storytellers approach creating stories responsibly?
How to Disagree with Your Editor
What should you, the author, do if you disagree with your editor? Yes, in an ideal world the editor would always perfectly understand the author’s vision and the author would always perfectly understand the editor’s comments. But some edits are subjective enough to...